History of Elsenham WI

The beginning - "A preliminary meeting was held in the school on Wednesday, November 9th 1921, when Miss Christy, Secretary of the Essex Federation of Women's Institutes, gave an address on the working objects and benefits of Women's Institutes. She also exhibited many useful articles made by members of Women's Institutes in different parts of the country. After the address, Mrs Screen proposed that a Women's Institute be formed for the village of Elsenham. On a show of hands this proposal was carried...

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After the election of a Committee with Miss L Orpen as Presedent, Elseham WI was up and running with 37 members. The Institute has flourished throughout the intervening years without a break, playing its part in the village, the wider district, the County Federation and in may instances helping to influence decisions in Parliament affecting the whole country.

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Membership has fluctuated over the years, increasing to 50 at only the second meeting and rising steadily.

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The location and timings of meetings have, of necessity varied over the years, but for the full story we offer our extracts from 90 years of minutes of the meetings...